November 24, 2009

This Thanksgiving “Lock It or Lose It”

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times for travelers as many of us hit the road to share the holiday with friends and family. And due to the economy, more of us will be traveling by automobile. According to Triple AAA projections, there will be additional 2.1 percent motorists when compared to last year.

Many holiday travel tips will help you on your journey, but I want to focus on how to keep your vehicle safe as you join those on U.S. highways to travel often unfamiliar routes and to new places that hold potential risks for your vehicle.

While many of us have read the reports indicating an overall drop in crime across the country, we continue to read and hear about increases in personal property crime, especially theft of or from automobiles. The Roanoke Police Department recently launched the “Safer City Roanoke” campaign to address this problem, an expansion of their “Lock It or Lose It” Initiative that was started four years ago.

As you travel this holiday season, protect your vehicle with these tips from McGruff:

Never leave your vehicle unattended with keys in the ignition.

Lock your doors and keep the windows closed, even when parked in front of your home.

Park in busy and well-lighted areas.

Do not leave valuables—GPS, GPS holder, cell phone—in plain view.

Equip your vehicle with an alarm or other anti-theft device.

Never leave your vehicle registration or other personal documents in your vehicle.